Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 2020complete | Page 582

Many others soon join in with a dazzling display of searchlights and lasers. All of a sudden, there was a
massive BANG, and an explosion erupted several metres next to us, creating a colourful burst of light all
around us. The sparrow turned and yelled: “The humans are releasing their fireworks! Quick, fly upwards
and try and get out of this area!”. I accelerated and spun upwards, narrowly avoiding the next firework as it
zoomed past me and released another deafening burst of light. On my right, my companion dodged three
consecutive shells with astonishing agility, even as they lit up the sky with a blinding flash. I was much faster
than him though, and soon climbed to a safe altitude, while he struggled to push past the waves of
explosions. I looked back with sudden horror as one of the projectiles exploded right in front of him,
enveloping his body in a flash of sparks. I dived back down as he plummeted, reeling from the shock.
Willing myself to fly faster and faster, I finally catch up with him, and slap him forcefully with my wings. He
blinkes several times, and as the water below rushes up to meet us, he finally realises his predicament and
flaps his wings in panic. A wave surges up and brushes against his minuscule body as he regains control and
skims across the surface of the midnight blue seawater. I glide along him, and breathe a sigh of relief. Above
us, the fireworks have stopped, and all is quiet. We land on a nearby tree back on the Central side of
Victoria Harbour. The sparrow looks at me, and pauses. After a while, he finally proclaims: “Well that was
an eventful day.”
It is morning, and we are on the move again. My companion has told me we will be visiting Macau, a small
cluster of islands that is the most densely populated region in the world. We fly a short distance to the Kai
Tak cruise terminal, which is where the humans go to take their ships. He explains that many humans will
visit Macau for leisure and gambling, which I have learnt is when the humans take their chances and try and
earn more money. Of course, as birds, we won’t be able to truly understand what the humans are doing.
Nonetheless, since the humans decide to merge Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Macau and several other areas into
what they call the Greater Bay Area, all these areas have experienced great economic success, declares the
sparrow. Especially Macau, which is why we are visiting as well; They also have an interesting history too!
“Aha, the ferry to Macau is starting to move now. Be careful, the ship will move quite fast, especially once it
moves into open water. Remember to keep focus on the ship!”
Just as he finishes speaking, a sleek red and white ship turns out of port, and we hastily follow. Soon enough,
the ferry picks up speed, and begins to raise itself up and out of the water. I watch astonished, even as I
breathe heavily, beginning to feel exhausted from the effort required to keep pace with the swiftly moving
ship. The sparrow sees my look of surprise, and informs me in between gasping breaths that the humans
have used some sort of technology that increases the speed of the ship by lifting it out of the water slightly.
After that, there was only the sound of the ship’s powerful engines as we kept silent, both having no energy
to spare on conversation. Around one hour after our departure, we finally arrive in Macau. Overwhelming
fatigue forces us to take a rest on a nearby palm tree. Once we finally regained our energy, my companion
spreads his wing and announces: “ Isn’t this place beautiful?” Yes, yes it is. I increase my altitude, flying
higher up to get a better view. Macau’s past is shown in it’s architecture, with many buildings dating back
over a hundred years. Yet Macau’s reputation for being a resort city filled with casinos is also true, with
luxurious hotels and over 30 casinos. I spend the rest of the day exploring the territory with my companion,
visiting historic sites such as the Ruins of St. Paul’s, and circling the Venetian hotel casino, hoping to catch a
glance of the extravagance inside. Time flies however, and as night approaches, we follow the last ferry of
the day back to Hong Kong island.
Several years have passed. I have lived here in Hong Kong with my friend, the sparrow, for a long long
time, nesting in a beautiful country park, but now I feel like it is time to return home. To Shenzhen. Back
where I truly belong. I bid farewell to my friend, and promise to return next winter. Looking back one
more time, I take flight.